David Robert Jones, one of the most famous international musicians born in London in 1947. Since the age of 9 he showed interest for the arts and music and quickly became a multi-instrumentalist. He started performing with bands, experimenting with different music styles and his evolution in music came a few years later with some very important for the history of music albums that made him a superstar.
I discovered David Bowie in a record shop where his cover of “Wild is the Wind” was played. It made an impression on me with its warm interpretation and arrangement and I soon found out that Bowie is not only an important singer but also a supreme songwriter. Without him the world of music would not have been the same and perhaps we would not have a so large variety of music styles today.
Bowie’s career can be divided in many characteristic periods:
1)the early music career
2)the Ziggy-glam era
3)the meta Ziggy period
4)the Berlin era
5)the 80’s era
6)the Tin Machine period
7)the modern Bowie era
Making a brief analysis of the above eras, the differences between them and the diversity that he introduced to his music together with the sarcastic and very deep philosophy, we understand that talking of David Bowie we talk about a multi-talented and unlimited in inspiration artist and perhaps about a risky person. Why risky? Because Bowie never hesitates to change his style, to adjust his music to his personal expectations.
His early career is not considered important and many fans ignore it. However, there are a lot of things that we should appreciate from this period. His sound starts as psychedelic folk together with some rock n roll influences. Listening to the songs from the album “Don’t be Fooled by the Name” (a rare 45) we see that Bowie does not play simple rock n roll but there is something more behind it. He had already performed and experimented with jazz bands, therefore he doesn’t sound like Elvis Presley, the Beatles or other famous rock n roll bands of that time. Interesting songs from this album are the “Can’t help thinking about me”, “Good morning girl”, “I did everything”, where the folk influences are obvious.
Bowie as a conceptual artist
A man from space who came to earth is the most characteristic Bowie persona, originating in the late pro-Ziggy period and reappearing in several albums; from “Space Oddity” and “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” to “Outside” with “Hallo Spaceboy” and also in some of his movies like “The man who fell to earth”. Apart from the space persona he likes to dedicate songs to artists he admires, like the song “Andy Warhol” from “Hunky Dory” or in his latest album “Reality” the song “Pablo Picasso”. Generally Bowie works with concepts, concepts that endure, that even after 30 years or so sound and look brand new.
David Buckley (2002) points out that “Some new music sounds very old indeed. Some of the music recorded twenty, thirty, even forty years ago, still sounds futuristic. Some pop stars are never content to pastiche the past; their desire is to think the unthinkable, their mission is to articulate those thoughts and fantasies that remained buried or confused. This is what set David Bowie apart in the 1970’s and it’s this sense of endless seeking which makes the albums from the era, whether it be the still weirdifying megalomania of Diamond Dogs, or the still uniquely troubled “Low” the defining records of their age“.
There is no doubt that David Buckley is right to support that some new musicians sound already outdated. There are several bands of the new Brit pop scene that only copy the same sounds, the same chord progressions, they are like a bad copy of what David Bowie did years ago.
Another crucial element of his Ziggy era was the outfits and the whole eccentric stage concept. The world was under conservative tension and the society was ready to burst with massive social changes in order to be relieved from the conservatism. Homosexuality was a big taboo during the 60s and Bowie did everything possible to adapt himself in the “revolutionary” climate. However, Bowie did not simply follow the winds of change but he enriched the era with his wild stories and each one had a specific meaning.
“I hope it achieved the worldwide recognition of David Bowie as a major artist and songwriter. That was my brief. It also changed the performance and presentation of popular music. Sound, lights and costumes became a necessity. Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was a vehicle to express the 70s angst” (Angela Bowie interview). “Ziggy Stardust allowed us all to live the dream of rock celebrity. For some the record has been the soundtrack of our lives over these thirty years” (David Buckley 2002).
Did Bowie invent Punk?
Several people believe that Bowie was the forerunner of the punk scene. This is true, as many bands were inspired by his extreme costumes and stage appearance. Punk-rock originally is a three-chord music style with monotone, aggressive drum beat. Its most important component is the anti-establishment message, like in the songs “Queen Bitch” or “Rebel Rebel” that oppose the taboo of homosexuality. However it is wrong to say that Bowie played punk music. Most of the music analysts agree that glam-rock is the first step towards the creation of Punk. It started in the late 60s with Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, Iggy Pop and the New York Dolls but after the 70s Bowie and the rest of the glam scene followed different directions; Bowie started changing his whole concept and the glam rockers became more aggressive, and were restricted to groups of people who adopted a hardcore, anti-establishment subculture. Nevertheless, it is well understood that if Bowie had not existed in music, neither punk nor many other styles would have been present. A small example: the song “The Man Who Sold the World” became a super hit by Nirvana but a lot of people don’t know that it is a David Bowie song.
There is a lot more to say about David Bowie’s Ziggy era. The first influences by Scott Walker are here present so Bowie’s singing becomes deeper resembling Walker’s dramatic style. His unique interpretation evolves even more; there is a big difference between the Ziggy album and the “Diamond Dogs” where Bowie sings more comfortably, without vocal tense whatsoever.
Where does Ziggy’s uniqueness lie? Songs like “The Supermen”, “Lady Stardust”, “Rock n Roll Suicide” (which is written for all the rock stars who suffered of drugs), “Moonage Daydream”, “Life on Mars”, “Prettiest Star”… the one better than the another… the guitars and the sound in general is stronger, more groundbreaking and explicit than any hard rock band.
“The Spiders. The stuff of legend, rock n roll style. Nothing as worldly as The Crickets or The Beatles. These insects were from Mars. At first they were The Rats (from Hull, birthplace to all Spiders). Then Ronson was lured into the Bowie fold, followed at intervals by drummer Woody Woodmansey, then bassist Trevor Bolder. After recording the Ziggy Stardust album it was decided that to promote the record these three should be dubbed The Spiders From Mars. Thus they were restyled, from head to toe, and the illusion was complete …. Weird and Gilly – Trevor and Woody. Not as noticeable as the multi-talented Ronno, but an essential part of the drama. And they knew how to play. The Spiders were a hot band. The hard thing for Trevor and Woody was all the attention devoted to Bowie and Ronno, of which they got to share little. And when the band broke up they slipped back into obscurity, though Trevor would surface a few years later with Uriah Heep. The Spiders From Mars. What would Ziggy have done without them?” – Mick Rock (1984)
The Berlin era is one of the most interesting periods. Bowie now declares to have “killed Ziggy”, The persona he was almost obsessed with, that he nearly believed to be a real person. “Murdering” Ziggy made Bowie fall in deep depression but this was the only way for him to consciously leave Ziggy behind and evolve. In Berlin he made three albums with Brian Eno, “Low”, “Lodger” and “Heroes” that include a lot of experimental and instrumental songs. Bowie sings with passion and, especially in “Low”, transfers the audience to the political tense and depression of East Berlin.
We should also mention that Bowie’s career is not only important because of the revolutionary songwriting but also because of the variety of show he presents. Would Madonna envy his stage dancing? Would Michael Jackson have used the Moonwalk if he hadn’t seen Bowie moonwalking during his Diamond Dogs tour? After the Berlin era he completely abandons the punk-glam appearance and big choreographies take place.
Outside
There is no doubt that this is one of the most important albums of his career. There is a mix of influences and it looks like Brian Eno and Bowie did everything possible to impress. Based on the ERT1 documentary, the original “Outside” was 3 hours long crammed with improvisations but it was shortened by request of their label, making it more accessible to the public. Even after that, it still sounds great and once again, we have a great concept in a unique atmosphere. The song “Strangers When We Meet” is a melodic surprise in an almost exclusively experimental project.
“Earthling” is Bowie’s purely electro album but in “Hours” he changes again to the easier and more straightforward singer/songwriter style but also more interesting comparing to his electro phase. There are several surprisingly fresh songs with most important the “Thursday’s Child”, “Seven”, “Survive”. “Heathen” continues in the same way as Hours but less interesting in my opinion. However the whole concept, and the excellent songs “Slow burn”, “Slip away”, “Angels have gone” establish Heathen as a quite particular album, a fulfilling experience for the music fan.
To those who think that Bowie’s inspiration during the last decade has diminished, I would suggest to listen to these albums more carefully. He still writes meaningful songs, concepts are always present, the spaceman is not so frequently around anymore, but as a true genius, David finds inspiration elsewhere. Perhaps “Reality” does not have a lot to say, as the music ideas are not new but at least Bowie keeps working with concepts which is obviously what he wants to do, not for the money or success but for the sake of his personal artistic endeavors.
Acting career:
Bowie is a gifted actor as well but it looks like support than lead roles are more suitable for him. Personally I did not find the movies where he plays the lead role the most exciting he has done but after all, he is a musician rather than an actor. However I cannot imagine “Absolute Beginners” without David Bowie in the role of the “capitalist”, neither I would enjoy “Basquiat” so much without Bowie portraying Andy Warhol, because he gives a unique touch wherever he is involved in. “Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence” and “Labyrinth” are perhaps his most characteristic movies, while I admire “Absolute Beginners” for its critical point of view about the 1958 racial riots in London. Other important movies are “The man who fell to earth” and of course his role of Pontius Pilate in “The last temptation of Christ”.
David Bowie O2, London.
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December 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 am
The Man is beyond Brilliant!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:22 am
The Outside album is a pure masterpiece.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I remember reading an interpretation of the “strangers when we meet” song in which Bowie is singing about someone with a terminal illness, such as Alzheimer or aids. He’s angry at first, then scared of being with her, and finally is glad he can still be with her, while shes still alive.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Bowie is very lucky in that his talent and creativity haven’t let him down. I find Heathen and Reality both extremely interesting and entertaining. That combination is completely missing in popular music nowadays (IMO)
October 5th, 2009 at 6:41 am
Altought in every moment Bowie has preserved the peculiarities of his songwriting the “let’s dance/never let me down” is the lowest point of bowie’s career even if there are songs like “Loving the alien” or “Modern love” that kicks hard, though that the Berlin period has been the most interesting, but this changes from fan to fan
October 4th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I can’t imagine being a fan for so long! what I often wonder when I stumble across older fans: was it difficult for you keeping up, where these moments hard to follow?:-young americans -the berlin period-lets dance, tonight and never let me down-tin machine
September 30th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Ive been a fan since I was little listening in the back seat of the car. My parents like him and now so do I. He has such a great voice and his lyrics are some of the best. I for one like more of his earlier work but some of the new stuff is hit and miss. This is one of the hits for me. I really liked it and the hearts filthy lesson but not much else off the album.Just my opinion.